Receptacles and method of making the same



Jan. 28, 1969 I J, HOEFFELMAN 3,424,343

RECEPTACLES AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed July 19, 1965 I PPRIORART I PRIOR ART 2 5 Fl G l I Q G O 2 I Johan Hoeffelmon ATTO RN 5 V8 Fl6 3 INVENTOR United States Patent 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Amethod for assembling a rigid plastic receptacle composed of a tubularbody and at least one end piece, which method involves heat sealing thetubular body to each end piece with an elastomer base adhesive which isinterposed between the end piece and the body, such an adhesiveproducing a strong, shock-resistant connection.

The present invention relates to receptacles and to a method of makingthe same;

More particularly, the present invention relates to the manufacture ofreceptacles made of rigid plastic materials as, for example,unplasticized polyvinylchloride.

There exist cylindrical receptacles made of plastic materials, which areassembled by securing one or two circular bottoms or so-called endpieces to a tubular cylindrical body which itself is obtained by cuttingsections from an extruded tube, the end piece or pieces being secured tothe tubular body at a relatively high temperature, such as 180 to 190 C.This is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, in which the end piece is firstaligned with a tubular body 2, after which the edge of the body 2 issecured within the annular groove 3 of the end piece 1. A thus-producedreceptacle has a very rigid bottom; in particular, the two annularperipheral regions which are joined together, namely, the edge of thetubular body 2 and the outer flange 4 of the end piece 1, will beexceedingly rigid. These rigid parts, however, constitute very fragilezones so that, should the receptacle be dropped accidentally, even froma low height, the entire packing will usually break.

It is, therefore, the primary objects of the present invention toprovide a way of manufacturing receptacles of the above type which,however, are able to withstand accidental falls.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a way ofmanufacturing such rupture-resistant receptacles in a simple andefficient manner.

With the above objects in view, the present invention resides, mainly,in a method of making a plastic receptacle, which method includes thestep of heat sealing a tubular body to at least one end piece whichcloses an end of the tubular body with an adhesive, especially anelastomer base adhesive, which is interposed between the end piece andthe tubular body.

The present invention further resides in receptacles made in accordancewith the above method.

Additional objects and adavntages of the present invention will becomeapparent upon consideration of the following description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURES 1 and 2, already referred to above, are sectional views showingthe two manufacturing steps according to the prior art.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a receptacle manufactured inaccordance with the present invention.

Patented Jan. 28, 1969 Referring once more to the drawings and now toFIG- URE 3 thereof, the same shows an end piece 11 secured to a tubularcylindrical body 12, the end piece 11 having an annular peripheralgroove 13 which is formed between the main body portion 11a of the endpiece 11 and the an nular flange 14. The edge portion 12a of the tubularbody 12 is received within the annular groove 13. Interposed between thetubular body 12 and the end piece 11 is an adhesive 15. In thearrangement shown in FIGURE 3, the adhesive fills the entire spacebetween the body 12 and the end piece 11 and also secures the outerflange 14 of the end piece to the outer surface of the edge portion 12aof the body 12.

The other end of the tubular body 12 may be closed off in a similarmanner.

The tubular body and the end piece may be made of unplasticizedpolyvinylchloride, which is an exceedingly rigid material.Alternatively, the tubular body and the end piece may be made of otherplastic materials, as, for example, polystyrene, polymethylacrylate, andthe like.

The adhesive itself is heat sealed to the tubular body and the endpiece; if these parts are made of unplasticized polyvinylchloride, thetemperature at which the heat sealing is effected is betweenapproximately C. and 0., rather than the relatively high temperaturerange of between to C. which was heretofore customary.

The adhesive is preferably deposited in the groove 13 of the end piece11. This can be done immediately prior to the heat sealing, or, if athermoplastic adhesive is used, the groove of the end piece may be linedwith a coat of such adhesive and be stored beyond the time it takes forthe adhesive to set. Alternatively, a ring of the adhesive, cut a thinfilm, can be placed into the groove prior to the heat sealing.

The adhesive itself may be any suitable thermoplastic. If the receptacleis made of polyvinylchloride, any common adhesive can be used, as, forexample, a polyvinylchloride base adhesive, a polyacrylate baseadhesive, or a copolymer having a chloride base or a vinyl acetate base.

Especially good results-insofar as shock-resistance is concerned-havebeen obtained with the use of an elastomer base adhesive, such as anadhesive having a rubber nitrile base or a neoprene base. This isbelieved to be due to the fact that a film of adhesive is formed betweenthe tubular body and the end piece, which film serves as an elasticcushion that absorbs the shocks to which the parts may be subjected incase the receptacle is dropped. In order that this film properly fulfillits function, it should be well distributed within the space between thetubular body and the end piece, i.e., the adhesive should fill theentire space between the tubular body and the end piece and thus alsolie between the inner and outer surfaces of the edge portion 12a of thebody 12 and the walls of the end piece which define the groove 13, afterwhich the joint is subjected to heat. In this way, the outer flange 14is well secured to the outer surface of the edge portion 12a.

The following examples are illustrative of the present invention; thefirst example describes the prior art and the subsequent examplespertain to receptacles made in accordance with the present invention,thereby to provide a comparison between the prior art and the presentinvention.

- EXAMPLE 1 A receptacle was made in accordance with the prior art, asdescribed in connection with FIGURES 1 and 2. The

receptacle consisted of a cylindrical body and of two end EXAMPLE 2 Al-liter receptacle, whose tubular body and end pieces were similar tothose described in Example 1, was assembled in accordance with thepresent invention, the tubular body and the end pieces being secured toeach other with the interposition of acrylic adhesive, heat sealed at atemperature of 130 C.

Parts by weight Chloropolyethylene 22 Toluene 58 n-Butanone 14 Whitespirit 6 This receptacle, too, when filled with water, was able towithstand falls from heights of more than 1 meter.

EXAMPLE 6 The external flanges of the end pieces did not manifest A r rep c was made in t n r described any tendency to become detached fromthe walls of the in EXaInPle except that the heat Sealing Operation Wastubular body. Despite the relatively low heat sealing tenicarried out at140 C. and the adhesive was a vinyl ethylperature, the receptacle,filled with water, was found to @116 acetate p y r base adhesive havingthe following be able to withstand falls from heights of the order of Pt HI 50 0 Parts by weight EXAMPLE 3 Vinyl ethylene acetate copolymer 28A l-liter receptacle was made in the manner described g i i gg ketone inExample 2, except that the adhesive was a rubber nitrile y e baseadhesive, the same'having been set at 130 C. This receptacle, too, whenfilled with water, was able The rubber nitrile base adhesive wascomposed of the 0 Withstand falls f g ts of more than 1 meter. following Parts by weight EXAMPLES 7 THROUGH 12, INCLUSIVE f butaffiene nitrilecopolymer 15 In each of these examples a 1-liter receptacle was madephenphc Tesm 6 as described in Example 2, but using different commer-Calclum carbonate 2 cially available adhesives, as set forth in theTable 1, Methyl ethyl ketone 77 which also ShOWs the temperatures usedin conjunction Th t l flanges of th d pieces f thi t l with therespective adhesives. In each case, the external too, did not manifestany tendency to become detached flanges showed no tendency to separatefrom the wall of from the walls of the tubular body. Furthermore, thethe tubular body, even when the receptacle, filled with receptacle,filled with water, was found, despite the relawater, was dropped fromheights of over 1 meter.

TABLE 1 Type of Manufacturer's Setting Example adhesive designationManufacturer tlierrgpgrg- 7 Rubber nitri1e Adhesif1475 Bostik (France)120 8 o.. Colle 7 10 HS Saba (Netherlands) 125 l) do Adhesif 847.Minnesota Mining and 130 Manufacturing Co. 10 -do. AdhesifN 171. miiiir'a' U.s.4. 13s 11--. do Phobond 20... Goodyear (U.S.A.) 140 12Neoprene Colle Pattern- Heukel (Germany) 130 tively low settingtemperature, to withstand falls from It will be understood that theabove description of the heights of more than 1 meter. present inventionis susceptible to various modifications, EXAMPLE 4 changes, andadaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended Within themeaning and range of equiv- A l-liter receptacle was made in the mannerdescribed l m fth appended i in Example 2, except that the heat sealingoperation was wh is claimed t i 21! and thfi'adheslve W 3 neoprene 1. Anarticle of manufacture, a receptacle having a base adheslve havlng thefollowlng composltloni generally tubular body and at least one end piecefor closparts by weight ingan end of said tubular body member, said endpiece Neoprene 19 havlng f y p o and a peripheral channel arrangedPhenolic resin 4 to recelve One end 0f aid tubular body, said tubularbody Calcium carbonate 1 having an 611d P n Which is arranged withinsaid Ethyl acetate 36 nn l; nd means permanently adhesively bonding saidMethyl ethyl ketone 21 tubular b dy and sald end plece to each other,said means Ol fi hydrocarbons 19 mprrslng n elastomer base adhesivewhich is interposed between said tubular body and said end piece to forma The extfimal flanges of the end Plece dld not mamfest cushioning layertherebetween which covers the end edge any tendency to b m d d from thewa11s of the and at least part of the inner and outer surfaces of saidtllblllal body. Furthermore, despite the relatlvely low settubular bodyend portion and which maintains Said end ting temperature, thereceptacle, filled with water, was piece out of direct contact with saidtubular body, said found to Wlthstand falls from helghts of more than 1adhesive securing said peripheral channel of said end meterpiece to theouter surface of said end portion of said EXAMPLE 5 A l-liter receptaclewas made in the manner described in Example 2, except that the heatsealing operation was carried out at C. and the adhesive was achloropolyethylene base adhesive having the following compositions:

tubular body.

2. A receptacle as defined in claim 1 wherein said adhesive fills theentire space between said two members.

3. An arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said tubular body iscylindrical.

4. In a method of making a plastic receptacle composed of at least twosubstantially rigid members one of which is a hollow tubular plasticbody and the other of which is a plastic end piece which is to close oneend of the tubular body, the steps of: applying a heat sealableelastomer base adhesive to at least one of said members in the regionwhere it is to be secured to the other member, bringing said two memberstogether so that said adhesive is interposed between them; andsubjecting said adhesive and the portions of said members adjacentthereto to heat for heat sealing said adhesive to both said members,said adhesive permanently bonding said members together and forming acushioning layer of said adhesive between them.

5. The method defined in claim 4 wherein the elastomer base of saidadhesive is rubber nitrile.

6. The method defined in claim 4 wherein the elastomer base of saidadhesive is neoprene.

7. The method defined in claim 4 wherein the heat sealing is carried outat a temperature of between approximately 120 C. and 140 C.

8. The method defined in claim 4 wherein the tubular body and the endpiece are made of unplasticized polyvinylchloride.

9. The method defined in claim 4 wherein the tubular body is heat sealedto two end pieces each closing off a respective end of the tubular body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,881,142 10/1932 Smith et a122081 X 2,555,380 6/1951 Stuart et a1. 15669 X 2,801,648 8/1957 Andersonet a1. 22081 X 3,160,542 12/1964 Foye 156--69 1,582,219 4/1926 Hopkinsonet al 22081 2,238,681 4/1941 Dorough 113-80 2,398,890 4/1946 Howard 1542,511,816 6/1950 Shaw 154 2,643,627 6/1953 Wobbe 22081 2,741,402 4/ 1956Sayre 22067 3,244,306 4/1966 Stolk 215- FOREIGN PATENTS 628,379 5/ 1963Belgium.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

JAMES R. GARRETT, Assistant Examiner.

US. 01. X.R.

